1994 Safari AWD,BLACK SMOKE! digi dash misleading

[beachbummm]

i recently bought a 1 owner 1994 AWD safari, I love these vans, i have gotten over 200,000 miles out of every astro/safari i have ever owned..this one has the "W" in the vin number with 139000 miles,Now for the few minor problems..its is putting out black smoke under heavy accel, the oil turns jet black after a few days...the cat converter rattles like a can of spray paint and the digital gas gauge reads full all the time, the oil pressure seems to be at 40 all the time ...the check engine light was on and a MAP sensor code was in the computer so i changed it, the light is now off, but i still have the black smoke and filthy oil after less then 100 miles, im hoping new bosh plugs and frequent oil changes clear it up, has anyone found an easy way to change plugs on these things while the van is on the ground?As for the gauges, im stumped, i thought they either read correctly or didnt work at all...ALL HELP IS WELCOME
thanks, this is a GREAT site!!!!!

[Eagle88]

The ratteling in the cat is because the ceramic inside is broken. a new cat should fix that. It might also be the cause of the black smoke. Or maybe dirty tbi. I would use an upper end cleaner. amsoil makes a good one called powerfoam, but I am sure there are others. Doing a few oil changes at a 1000 miles or less will help clean the engine oput too. I do not recomend using those 10 minute enginecleaners. On a high mileage engine, they can do more harm than good. The fuel gage is probably a bad sending unit in the tank. Let me know if you find an easy way to change the plugs on these. I was quoted about 150.00 to have them changed at a shop

[ccraft31]

since it is a w vin,sounds like your cpu(cental port injection)pressure regulator is starting to go.. had a similar problem,recently,on a 93
astro... sooty exhaust,dirty oil,poor idle,etc........you can replace
just the regulator,but, suggest a complete reconditioned unit. a bit cheaper than brand new.....read up at lindertechservices.com
my van had 174000 miles on it and after changing the unit
ran like new..and passed emissions with flying colors..good luck
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[the blur]

sounds like you need a spider $$$ and a nut set.